James Hopes wins Healy Trophy

07 Apr 2014

Queensland’s “captain courageous” James Hopes tonight made history as he became the first three-time winner of the Ian Healy Trophy as the XXXX GOLD Bulls Player of the Year.

The 35-year-old allrounder was rewarded for a remarkable season that saw him defy back stress fractures and a rib injury to record career highs for Queensland.The former Australian limited overs specialist had his best first class season with the ball, taking career best bowling figures in consecutive matches, and finishing with 38 wickets at 24.28 to top Queensland’s leading wicket-taker list for the second summer in a row.

Hopes was the third leading wicket-taker overall in the Bupa Sheffield Shield and named in the ACA Shield Team of the Year.

He also hit four first class half centuries, and led with distinction across first class and one-day competitions as the Bulls netted back to back Ryobi Cups in the limited overs arena and went within a victory of qualifying for the Shield Final.

Hopes is the all-time leading wicket-taker in Australian one-day history with 148 wickets and was recognised as well at the annual dinner for becoming just the third player to play 100 one-day games for Queensland.

He also took out the Bulls Players’ Player and Brisbane Heat Best Team Man awards on the night.

His Healy Trophy win makes it a trifecta, following success in 2004-05 and 2010-11.

Recalled Australian Southern Stars T20 allrounder Delissa Kimmince was the Konica Minolta Queensland Fire player of the year, with her match-winning 78 not out a key factor in the Fire claiming its first ever national trophy by beating the ACT in the WT20 Final.

New Zealand Black Caps legend Dan Vettori was the Heat MVP, while batsmen Usman Khawaja (Ryobi Cup) and Peter Forrest (Sheffield Shield) were each recognised for stout efforts during the summer.

Khawaja produced a number of match-defining innings during the Ryobi Cup carnival. He was the second leading runs-scorer with 426 runs at 71, including an outstanding 104 in the Final that earned him the player of the match award. He also produced four half centuries in his seven innings as Queensland dropped just the one match on the way to the title.

Forrest was the leading runs scorer for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield this season, finishing fourth overall, with 823 runs at 68.58 including three centuries and two half centuries.

He scored back to back hundreds in the final two rounds of the competition to record the most runs scored by a Bulls player since Chris Hartley hit 839 runs in 2009-10.

Hartley was also feted at the awards, presented with a framed portrait and a bronzed Queensland baggy maroon cap to signify his inclusion as the 14th member of The 100 Club, for players who have registered 100 or more first class matches for the State.

Teenage Warwick fast bowler Mark Steketee was the Queensland Academy of Sport Player of the Year in a season where he earned a contract with the Heat, while Kingaroy batsman Anthony Eden was the Country Player of the Year.

Toombul batsman Matthew Renshaw, 17, was the Male Youth Player of the Year and 18-year-old Charters Towers allrounder Haidee Birkett, who made her Fire debut this season, was the Female Youth Player of the Year.

2013-14 Queensland Cricket AwardsIan Healy Trophy Bulls Player of the Year: James HopesKonica Minolta Queensland Fire Player of the Year: Delissa KimminceBrisbane Heat MVP: Dan VettoriBulls Players’ Player: James HopesBrisbane Heat Players’ Player: James HopesBupa Sheffield Shield Player of the Year: Peter ForrestRyobi Cup Player of the Year: Usman KhawajaBDO Bulls Fielding Award: Joe BurnsQueensland Academy of Sport Player of the Year: Mark SteketeeState Government Queensland Country Player of the Year: Anthony EdenQueensland Thunder Indoor Player of the Year: Robert FitzgeraldQueensland Lightning Indoor Player of the Year: Ashleigh DobleQueensland Youth Player of the Year: Matthew RenshawKonica Minolta Queensland Fire Youth Player of the Year: Haidee Birkett